The Osceola times., 1887-04-23


trappings and make ready for the next
day. Soon after breakfast | took NV
repeating rife and navy revolver. slip
ped some extra cartridges into my
pocket, and set out alone TO have a
look at the deserted village below us.
81 warn YOU TO be careful SIR" eau
TONED native tiger slayer as passed
the spot on which he was mending a
saddle.
'Oh, | have no fear. and the wild
beasts will be asleep this morning. any,
how"
"Some may not, he answered. with
dubious shake of the head, and he
was looking after me rs entered the
brush.
had forgotten to say that during the
night we were greatly disturbed by the
noises around us. We kept several
large fires going, and while these pre-
vented marauding bea Is from coming
TOO near, the glare probably attracted
them to the locality. One could dis
tinguish the spit of the panther, the
snarl of the tiger, and the voice of the
lion; and added 80 ;a.ic-c ~ IRE the howl
of the wolf. the chatter of the hyena,
and the yelp of the jackal. Truly, we
had struck rich fnd. Driven out Of
the other districts, the beast creation
had made their way TO this, and the
sound of hunters rifle had not been
heard here for years.
had not gone a quarter of a mile
from camp when large black snake
ran Kissing away from my feet, and I
heard wild beast of some sort making
its way in the thicket These were
proofs that could not be overprudent,
and thereafter | kept my eyes about
me and my rifle ready for instant serv-
ice. The village was strung along
the creek for half mile, but the first
hut | came to was an inclosure that
had been used for council house.
The four walls were of adobe, while
the roof was matched. There were
really but three walls, one end being
left open except slight return of each
side wall. This open space was at
least twenty feet across. while there
was room enough inside for 400 people
to sit or stand. The open end looked
back in the direction ] had come, and
twenty feet away was the beginning of a
wall which extended for about 800 feet.
II was about four feet high, made of
adobe, and l could not make out for
what purpose it had been erected. II
an enemy had been expected to APP
proach from east or west this wall
would have been good breastwork. al
though its left flank could have easily
been turned.
/ stood there for three or four min
utes scanning the interior of the build
ing, and then walked to the further end
of it. There was couple of whitened
skulls on the ground, and ! gave one
of them kick. As ! did so an insect or
n reptile Of some sort issued forth with
great swiftness and stung or bit me
on the left wrist. Its movements were
so rapid that ! could not say whether
it flew or sprang at me. | simply
caught a glimpse or two of a dark,
hairy object, and then felt the pain,
which was as severe as if | had been
touched with a rcd-hot iron. ear.
ricd an antidote for insect and reptile
poisoning. Near the great doorway
/ n Of nd / =, .t
pulled off my coat, pushed upmy sleeve,
and examined the wound. There was
but one puneture, but it had drawn
blood, and the flesh was rapidly
reddening. / brought my arm ur
and sucked away at the wound fol
two or three minutes, and then applied
the antidotc and wrapped a bnndagt
about it. must have drawn the poison
out, but nevertheless | soon fouad my.
self as weak as a babe, and my head
seemed four times too large for my
body. Indeed, / was afraid to stand
up for fear that my body would no
support the head This feeling begar
to 90 away in about fifteen minutes
and was just congratulating myself
on my lucky escape when | turned my
eyes to the north, or toward camp
The sight thrilled me like an clectri,
| shock. Close beside the wall, on tn,
left hand side, was tiger, a rousin;
big fellow, who had seen fifteen year
of life. On the right hand side, an,
also close to the base of the wall, was
medium sized male lion, and the atti
tude of both plainly showed that the,
had been stalking me. 1t was still
| hunt, and | was the victim. The lioi
had come out of the bush to the right
and the tiger had come out of
thicket ( 0 the left and crossed the creek
Neither animal could have seen tn,
other, and thus they We're not aware o
each others presence.
Had | remained in the building will
my back 20 the door another momen
one of the beasts would undoubtedl
have crept close enough to make
spring When turned about and sa
down on the block ofwood'the movemen
upset their calculations and made then
timd for The moment. Under certain
circumsta nee any wild beast loses heart
A move which is a surprise and no
clearly understood will make ours o
them at once, and second move will
put them to ignominious flight Wher
| got sight of the beasts the lion
had half turned as if to sneak away
while the tiger was crouehed against